An economic valuation of the recreational benefits associated with nature-based forest management practices

TY - JOUR

T1 - An economic valuation of the recreational benefits associated with nature-based forest management practices

AU - Nielsen, Anders Busse

AU - Olsen, Søren Bøye

AU - Lundhede, Thomas Hedemark

PY - 2007

Y1 - 2007

N2 - The presented study aimed at identifying and assessing public preferences for variations in tree species composition, tree height structure, and presence of dead trees left for natural decay – forest characteristics which are likely to be affected when subjecting stands to nature-based forest management in the temperate, nemoral deciduous zone. Data were collected by means of a questionnaire and by applying choice experiments to elicit people’s willingness to pay (WTP). Respondents evaluated a set of hand-drawn forest profile diagrams designed to illustrate different levels and combinations of the mentioned three forest characteristics. The highest WTP (1939 DKK, approx. 262 EUR) was found for a scenario of replacing the baseline case stand of even-aged conifers with no dead trees left for natural decay with a mixture of conifers and broadleaves of varying heights, and leaving a few dead trees for natural decay (5 per ha). However, as the study did not include the importance of variation at forest and landscape levels for public preferences, the elicited WTP ought to be interpreted and used carefully. Based on the study’s findings, further research on recreational values associated with conversion to nature-based forest management is suggested.

AB - The presented study aimed at identifying and assessing public preferences for variations in tree species composition, tree height structure, and presence of dead trees left for natural decay – forest characteristics which are likely to be affected when subjecting stands to nature-based forest management in the temperate, nemoral deciduous zone. Data were collected by means of a questionnaire and by applying choice experiments to elicit people’s willingness to pay (WTP). Respondents evaluated a set of hand-drawn forest profile diagrams designed to illustrate different levels and combinations of the mentioned three forest characteristics. The highest WTP (1939 DKK, approx. 262 EUR) was found for a scenario of replacing the baseline case stand of even-aged conifers with no dead trees left for natural decay with a mixture of conifers and broadleaves of varying heights, and leaving a few dead trees for natural decay (5 per ha). However, as the study did not include the importance of variation at forest and landscape levels for public preferences, the elicited WTP ought to be interpreted and used carefully. Based on the study’s findings, further research on recreational values associated with conversion to nature-based forest management is suggested.

KW - Former LIFE faculty

KW - Forest preferences

KW - Choice experiments

KW - Stated preference methods

KW - Silviculture

KW - Conversion

U2 - 10.1016/j.landurbplan.2006.06.003

DO - 10.1016/j.landurbplan.2006.06.003

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0169-2046

VL - 80

SP - 63

EP - 71

JO - Landscape and Urban Planning

JF - Landscape and Urban Planning

IS - 1-2

ER -